IN UPPER AUSTRIA.
Inhabitants. HOUSES.
Linz, or Lintz l7,900 1006 Ens 4,400 510 Freystadt 4,000 460 Wells 3,300 376 Gmunden 3,000 310 Reid 3,000 299 Hallstadt 2,800 281 Stcyer 2,200 370 From the Tables which we have seen, it appears, that the population of Austria has been rather in creasing for the last 30 years, in spite of the bloody wars which she has carried on during that eventful period. This must, in some measure, he ascribed to the influx of foreigners from her distant provinces to Vienna, as well as to the numerous public academies and other literary and military establishments which that capital contains. Vast numbers of Bohemians, Moravians, Stirians, aud Italians, are found among the common labouring and manufacturing classes in Vienna, who, although they banish none of the na tive Austrians, or perhaps greatly add to the popu lation which that metropolis would at all events con tain, yet greatly augment that of the province, by keeping in the country, and in its towns, persons who would otherwise flock for employment and high wages to Vienna.
The Roman Catholic is the established religion of Austria ; but since the reign of Joseph II. Protest ants of every description, as well as Jews, Greeks, Russians, and Turks, and in short persons of every persuasion, enjoy full toleration and We found a respectable Lutheran and Presbyterian cha pel in Vienna, and in Upper Austria there are many thousand Protestants, who have their regular stated clergymen preaching to them in full freedom, and discharging their ministerial and clerical functions as much at their ease as if they were in England. There are indeed in Austria eleven Protestant parochial charges or parishes, the incumbents of which enjoy competent salaries from their flocks, and are much respected by their Roman Catholic neighbours. So far indeed were we from meeting with any of the in tolerance and bigotry, of which we read the most ex aggerated accounts in books of travels,that, although occasionally residing for years in this province since 1796, not a single instance of any thing approaching to persecution or intolerance occurred in our expe rience. The Austrian is indeed attached to his own
religious ceremonies, and wishes them to be treated with respect and decency by others ; but he never interferes improperly, nor displays any symptoms of arrogance or fanaticism. The pilgrimages which take place to Mariazell, and other celebrated cells in Austria, are indeed often extremely ridiculous, and accompanied by scenes 'which excite' much mirth among strangers : but to those who have seen the superstitions of the East, or the buffooneries and ab surdities of Italy, Spain, and Portugal, they will ap pear to approach rather to innocent recreations, than to degrade the persons concerned in them from that rank as reasonable beings, with which the gross fool eries of superstition are frequently incompatible. Nei ther the Austrian clergy, nor the teachers of youth, 'are responsible for the remains of ancient and tradi tionary customs, to which their people still cling with fond enthusiasm ; nor can we impute to them any more collusion in misleading them, or suffering them to be misled, than we can to our own Highland clergy and schoolmasters for permitting a belief in witchcraft and the second sight.
The best proof of the efficacy of religion is to be deduced from the morals of a people. No nation in Europe is less stained with public crimes than the Austrian. In none do we find fewer vices, less dis order, and more good nature, kindness, charity, and genuine humanity. Murder, aryl the atrocious crimes, are never heard of. Theft is extremely rare, forgery almost unk'nown, and bankruptcies and similar prac tices, so common in England, arc regarded with ab horrence. Drunkenness scarcely ever appears in public, as in our streets ; and when it does, it is not in the frightful and hideous form of rage and fury, but a mixture of mirth and infantine folly, such as is described by Anacreon. If religion is to be judged by its fruits on the character, therefore, it will sure ly require an uncommon share of hatred to popery to reconcile us to the belief that that of the Austrian is a very bad one.